Blueberry plant named ‘C97-41’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of blueberry ( Vaccinium  hybrid) plant named ‘C97-41’, characterized by its bushy plant shape and strong plant growth vigor, evergreen foliage with early to medium timing of vegetative bud burst, early timing of flowering and early to medium timing of fruiting, large berry size with oblate shape, medium to firm fruit suited to handling, attractive dark blue fruit color and small picking scar, medium berry sweetness with weak to medium acidity. This combination results in higher quality fruit with a later availability than other varieties.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Vaccinium hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘C97-41’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct perennial variety of Vaccinium hybrid (Southern Highbush Blueberry), which has been given the variety denomination of ‘C97-41’. Its market class is that of a fruiting plant. ‘C97-41’ is intended for use as fresh fruit for shipping, customer pick and processing markets and as a home garden plant.

The new blueberry cultivar is a selection resulting from seedlings produced in a controlled breeding programme of Vaccinium at Gainesville, Fla., USA in 1995 from a cross of seed parent “F95-52” (unpatented) and pollen parent “E12” (unpatented). The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single plant within a population of blueberry plants in 1999, in a commercial field plantation environment at Corindi Beach, New South Wales, Australia. Selection criteria was a combination of very strong plant growth vigor, early to mid season of ripening, good fruit flavor, large fruit size, medium to firm fruit suited to handling, attractive dark blue fruit color and small picking scar. The selection was subsequently evaluated for a number of years at the commercial farms at Corindi Beach, New South Wales, Australia.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by cutting propagation since 1997 at Corindi Beach, New South Wales, Australia and has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

The new variety has been primarily compared to the variety ‘Sweetcrisp’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,027). In Corindi Beach, New South Wales, Australia the plant growth vigor of ‘C97-41’ is ‘strong’ whereas the plant growth vigor of ‘Sweetcrisp’ is ‘medium to strong’. The time of vegetative bud burst of ‘C97-41’ is ‘early to medium’ whereas the time of vegetative bud burst of ‘Sweetcrisp’ is ‘early’. The fully developed leaf length of ‘C97-41’ is ‘long’ (66-70 mm) whereas the fully developed leaf length of ‘Sweetcrisp’ is ‘medium’ (mean 54 mm). The fully developed leaf width of ‘C97-41’ is ‘broad’ (32-36 mm) whereas the fully developed leaf width of ‘Sweetcrisp’ is ‘medium’ (mean 29 mm). The time of fruit ripening of ‘C97-41’ is ‘early to medium’ whereas the time of fruit ripening of ‘Sweetcrisp’ is ‘medium to late’. The sweetness of a berry of ‘C97-41’ is classified as ‘medium’ whereas the sweetness of a berry of ‘Sweetcrisp’ is classified as ‘strong to very strong’. The acidity of a berry of ‘C97-41’ is classified as ‘weak to medium’ whereas the acidity of a berry of ‘Sweetcrisp’ is classified as ‘very weak’. This combination of fruiting attributes results in ‘C97-41’ being a more suitable variety for commercial and home garden use than ‘Sweetcrisp’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘C97-41’ as a new and distinct cultivar of blueberry plant:

-   -   1. Bushy plant growth habit     -   2. Strong plant growth vigor     -   3. Early to medium timing of vegetative bud burst     -   4. Early timing of beginning of flowering     -   5. Early to medium timing of fruit ripening     -   6. Dark blue berry color     -   7. Berry firmness is medium to firm     -   8. Picking scar is dry     -   9. Berry diameter is large     -   10. Berry shape is longitudinal cross-section is oblate     -   11. Berry sweetness is medium     -   12. Berry acidity is weak to medium         Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the parents         primarily in early timing of beginning of flowering, early to         medium timing of berry ripening, and strong plant growth vigor,         whereas the seed parent is mid-season in timing of flowering and         berry ripening, and medium plant growth vigor and the pollen         parent is early season in timing of flowering and berry ripening         and strong plant growth vigor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘C97-41’.

FIG. 1 illustrates a ‘C97-41’ plant in a commercial field planting.

FIG. 2 illustrates ‘C97-41’ leaf and berry shapes and dimensions.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinct variety of a Vaccinium hybrid ornamental plant known as ‘C97-41’. Plant observations were made on plants grown in Corindi Beach, New South Wales, Australia. Unless indicated otherwise, the descriptions disclosed herein are based upon observations made from August to October 2007 of mature ‘C97-41’ plants (age 4 years) grown in outdoor field plantings with day temperatures ranging from 21° C. to 23° C., night temperatures ranging from 10° C. to 12° C., and light levels ranging from 6 to 8 klux. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, younger plants. ‘C97-41’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may vary with variations in the environment such as season, temperature, light quality, light intensity, day length, cultural conditions and the like. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart, of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2007 edition.

-   Botanical classification: Vaccinium hybrid cultivar C97-41. -   Parentage:     -   -   Parents.—Seed parent “F95-52” (unpatented) and pollen parent             “E12” (unpatented). -   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Plants are bushy. Growth vigor is strong.             Plant height is 1.9 m. Plant width is 1.2 m. Flower bud             density is medium. Twigginess is low. Time of beginning of             leaf bud burst is early to medium (mid to late August) when             grown as an evergreen in Australia. Time of beginning of             flowering is early (mid August) when grown as an evergreen             in Australia. Time of fruit ripening is early to medium (mid             September) when grown as an evergreen in Australia.             Self-fruitfulness is moderate and interplanting with another             cultivar for cross-pollination is advised. -   Stem:     -   -   Suckering tendency.—Plants typically have 5-7 major canes             per plant from a base 30 cm in diameter on 6 year old             plants.         -   Canes.—Erect to semi-erect with moderate branching; color             greyed green 198C; 2 year old cane diameter 12 mm, colored             greyed orange 177B, some flaking of bark, current season             wood diameter 3-4 mm, colored yellow green 144C.         -   Internode length on strong, new shoots.—15-20 mm.         -   Fruiting wood.—Numerous twigs to 10 cm in length.         -   Surface texture of new wood.—Smooth.         -   Petiole.—Color yellow green 154D. Average length of 1-2 mm             long.         -   Surface texture.—Smooth to slightly pubescent. -   Fully developed leaf:     -   -   Length.—Medium 66-70 mm.         -   Width.—Broad approximately 32-36 mm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Color.—Yellow green 137A.         -   Intensity of color.—Medium.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Undulation of margin.—Absent or very weak.         -   Pubescence of upper side.—Absent.         -   Pubescence of lower side.—Absent.         -   Cross sectional profile.—Flat.         -   Longitudinal profile.—Straight.         -   Attitude.—Horizontal. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Average size.—45 mm long by 25 mm wide.         -   Length of peduncle.—To 12 mm.         -   Surface texture of peduncle.—Smooth.         -   Peduncle color.—144D.         -   Length of pedicel.—Long 8-10 mm.         -   Surface texture of pedicel.—Smooth.         -   Pedicel color.—144C.         -   Number of flowers per cluster.—Median 7.         -   Flower cluster density.—Is sparse to medium.         -   Flower arrangement.—Is racemose, fasciculate (2 to 3             flowers) or solitary. -   Flowers:     -   -   Length of corolla tube.—Short to medium (to 10 mm).         -   Width of corolla tube.—Narrow to medium (to 9 mm).         -   Corolla aperture diameter.—4 mm.         -   Color of corolla.—White 155D.         -   Anthocyanin coloration.—Of very weak to weak.         -   Corolla ridges.—Present.         -   Protrusion of stigma.—Absent.         -   Fragrance.—Weak.         -   Shape.—Urceolate.         -   Abundance of pollen.—High.         -   Color of pollen.—White to yellow white 158D.         -   Calyx (with sepals).—Diameter 5-6 mm.         -   Calyx color.—Green 138A. -   Market class: Suitable for the commercial, hand harvest fresh,     processed, and home garden markets. -   Productivity: 3 to 4 kg per season from 3-4 year old plants planted     at 3.0 m×0.9 m density; yield was recorded on 4-year old plants     growing in a deep, light-texture soil in Corindi, NSW. C00-09     produced 8.5 lb/plant (=3.9 kg/plant). -   Cold hardiness: ‘C97-41’ has not been grown in all environments     including harsh winter environments. Cold tolerance is expected to     be low. Plants have survived winter freeze in Australia to minus     8° C. with minimal winter dieback of young shoots and resultant loss     of fruit and flowers, and poor growth vigor. -   Chilling requirement: ‘C97-41’ has not been grown in all     environments and is typically grown as an evergreen crop where     chilling hours are not important. ‘C97-41’ is classed as ‘low     chill’, typical of Southern Highbush Blueberry varieties with an     estimated chilling requirement of 250 hours (not tested). -   Leafing: Plants retain leaves year round (at Corindi beach, NSW     Australia) and ‘C97-41’ is grown commercially as an evergreen crop.     New leafing occurs in late August at Corindi beach, NSW Australia. -   Fruit:     -   -   Unripe fruit color intensity.—Medium.         -   Unripe fruit color.—144A.         -   Cluster density.—Is sparse.         -   Diameter.—Is large (mean 18.6 mm).         -   Weight.—Medium-heavy (approximately 2.8 g).         -   Shape.—Oblate.         -   Attitude of calyx.—Erect.         -   Diameter of calyx basin.—Medium (mean 6.2 mm).         -   Depth of calyx basin.—Is medium (to 2.0 mm).         -   Intensity of bloom.—Strong. Intensity of blue color of skin             with bloom removed is dark.         -   Color of skin.—202A.         -   Sweetness when ripe.—Medium.         -   Firmness when ripe.—Medium to firm.         -   Acidity when ripe.—Weak to medium.         -   Size of scar.—Is very small (to 1.0 mm).         -   Storage quality.—Good.         -   Color of flesh.—Yellow green 145D to yellow green 150D. -   Date of 50% maturity: Approximately 20^(th) September at Corindi     beach, NSW Australia. -   Fruit development period: Approximately 55 days in protected     cultivation at Corindi beach, NSW Australia. -   Seed:     -   -   Seed color.—Greyed orange 165B.         -   Seed abundance in fruit.—Medium.         -   Seed size.—1.6-1.8 mm long for fully developed seeds.             Average of 54 seeds per Berry. -   Tolerance to disease: ‘C97-41’ has shown low resistance to root     disease (Phytophthora spp) and low resistance to blueberry rust     compared to the commercial variety ‘Sweetcrisp’. Also demonstrates     moderate to low resistance to the fruit disease Anthracnose     (Colletotrichum gleosporoides). 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of blueberry plant named ‘C97-41’, substantially as herein shown and described. 